Friday, 1 April 2016 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC15R0

New South Wales in March 2016: warmest March on record

A significant and prolonged heatwave at the start of March broke numerous records across New South Wales, resulting in the warmest March on record for statewide average mean and minimum temperatures. Rainfall was below average, particularly in the north and east, but severe thunderstorms caused locally heavy rainfall.

• Warmest March on record for statewide mean and minimum temperatures
• Sixth-warmest March on record for statewide average maximum temperatures
• Significant and prolonged heatwave breaks records in early March
• Below average rainfall in the north and east

New South Wales recorded its warmest March on record for statewide average mean and minimum temperatures during 2016. It was also the sixth-warmest March on record for statewide average maximum temperatures, and the warmest since 1998. Temperatures were well above average across most of the State, with several stations recording their warmest March on record for either maximum, minimum, or mean temperatures.

Temperatures were very warm across the State during the first two weeks of the month, when a significant and prolonged heatwave affected the country (see Special Climate Statement 55: Prolonged March heatwave affects many parts of Australia). Numerous stations broke March records for extended periods above temperature thresholds such as 30 °C or 35 °C, as well as record spells of night-time temperatures above 20 °C, with some places such as Sydney recording warm spells twice as long as the previous record for any month. Some also broke records for extreme daily maximum or minimum temperatures, although the heatwave was more notable for its prolonged nature than daily extremes. Temperatures were closer to average during the second half of March, with particularly cool days in western NSW on the 29th.

Rainfall during March was 45% below average for the State as a whole, with average to below average rainfall across much of the east and north, parts of which recorded their driest March on record. Most of the rest of the State recorded close to average rainfall, with the exception of above-average falls in parts of the far west. Most of the rain during the month was associated with localised showers and thunderstorms, including isolated totals above 100 mm on several occasions, with a cold front producing wind gusts above 100 km/h and more widespread rainfall on the 18th.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top